GUWAHATI, Aug 27 � The �Monsoon Fruit Festival� organised at the Holy Child School campus today under the joint aegis of Foundation x-mass india and Rotary Club of Guwahati West drew good participation of schoolchildren.
The objective of the festival is to promote healthy eating habits � particularly fruit-eating � among children, which in turn can contribute significantly to their physical and mental well-being.
Dr Gayatri Bezboruah, associate professor of Gauhati Medical College, and Prof Nirmali Medhi of Handique Girls� College addressed the children in the school.
Dr Dibakar Kalita who has been behind the idea of promoting fruit-eating among children, said that his objective was to check the unhealthy trend of junk-food eating among children and initiate them into the deliciously wonderful world of fruits.
�As a pediatrician, I was shocked to see that many of my young patients had rather unhealthy eating habits, which was a major cause behind their weakness or ailments. In fact, the intake of fruits was extremely limited in their diets,� Dr Kalita said.
Terming lack of awareness and parental guidance as the main reasons behind the low intake of fruits among children, Dr Kalita said that economic condition was not a major reason as was often cited. �I have seen parents spending quite big amounts on junk foods such as potato chips, burgers, etc., for children but spent far less on fruits,� he said.
Dr Kalita said that regular eating of different seasonal and easily available fruits which are rich in minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, etc., could keep at bay many ailments and disorders besides contributing to overall good health of children.
Dr Kalita said that he intended to make the festival a monthly affair next month onwards to spread the message of fruit eating among children fast.
Dr Kalita said that the government authorities too had a responsibility in ensuring that unscrupulous trades did not resort to the practice of getting fruits matured overnight by use of injections.
